Ukraine calls on Russia to cease hostilities for evacuation of civilians

By Jeyhun Aliyev

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - Ukraine's Foreign Ministry demanded on Wednesday that Russia "immediately cease its hostilities" in Kharkiv and Sumy and arrange the evacuation of the civilian population, including foreign students, to "safer" Ukrainian cities.

"There are students from India, Pakistan, China and other counties who cannot leave because of the indiscriminate shelling and barbaric missile strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on residential areas and civilian infrastructure," it said in a statement.

The statement said Ukraine "stands ready" to assist foreign students to relocate from Kharkiv and Sumy "should Russia commit to a cease-fire."

"Attempting to arrange evacuations through cities that are being subjected to Russian bombing and missile strikes is extremely dangerous," it said.

The ministry also "urgently" called on the governments of India, Pakistan, China and other counties whose students "have become hostages of the Russian armed aggression" in Kharkiv and Sumy, to demand from Moscow that it allows the opening of a humanitarian corridor to other Ukrainian cities.

"The Ukrainian government is committed to providing foreign students with all necessary assistance to enable them to return safely to their home countries," it said.